Corcoran abandons bid for governor

John Kennedy GateHouse Capital Bureau @JKennedyReport

Wednesday

May 9, 2018 at 2:44 PMMay 9, 2018 at 3:03 PM

“Given the fact that 2018 is going to be a crucial election, I think it’s important that we rally around and figure out who the best person is to lead this state,” Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran said.

Trailing in most polls and fundraising behind Putnam and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, a Palm Coast Republican touted by President Donald Trump, Corcoran conceded at a news conference that, “I don’t think we had the resources to move forward.”

“Given the fact that 2018 is going to be a crucial election, I think it’s important that we rally around and figure out who the best person is to lead this state,” said Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes.

“There’s no doubt … in my mind, that person is Adam Putnam,” he added.

While the Republican field shrinks to two leading contenders, four prominent Democrats are vying for that party’s gubernatorial nomination. Candidates formally qualify to run next month.

Putnam, the state’s agriculture commissioner, and Corcoran joined for their announcement at the Florida Association of Realtors headquarters, a block from the Florida Capitol.

The low-key event, which both insisted came with no promises of future jobs or specific campaign roles, was derided by DeSantis’ campaign as a “corrupt bargain,” and “deal-making in the Tallahassee swamp.”

Corcoran’s departure from the race capped months of speculation about how a Republican primary featuring three prominent candidates could play out.

Instead, it apparently leaves a contest between a longtime figure on the Florida GOP landscape, Putnam, who was first elected to the state House at age 21, and DeSantis, who has drawn praise via Twitter from Trump and is a frequent guest on Fox News.

“Career politician, Adam Putnam, will now get the two-man race he’s been fearing for a year,” said DeSantis campaign manager Brad Herold.

Putnam dismissed the insider label.

“Floridians want someone who will lead our state with passion and conviction, with high character, someone who knows our state and will always put Florida first,” said Putnam, adding that Corcoran’s endorsement, “means everything in the world to me.”

For Corcoran, it’s a remarkable closing chapter to his two years as House speaker in which he pulled the chamber along on a host of conservative issues that seemed to preface a gubernatorial run.

Last year, he battled with Scott, now a candidate for U.S. Senate, over spending on the state’s economic and tourist marketing programs, a clash that included the two GOP leaders airing critical TV ads against each other.

After a special session was needed to complete a new state budget, Corcoran and Scott last year became allies.

They appeared together to promote the spending plan and later advanced a proposed constitutional amendment before voters in November that would require super-majority votes in the House and Senate to approve a tax or fee increase.

Scott is now campaigning on a similar proposal for Congress.

Corcoran’s focus on the Republican gubernatorial primary became more obvious this year when he aired a pair of TV ads portraying undocumented immigrants as potentially dangerous to Floridians and calling for an increase in deportations.

But Corcoran seemed unable to move the needle when it came to drawing support in polls. Meanwhile, legislative rules barred him from fund-raising during the two-month legislative session, and his April financial report showed his cash-on-hand shrinking.

Corcoran had about $2.2 million, compared to $6.7 million for DeSantis, and Putnam’s almost $20 million.

Corcoran also ruled out running for any other office in 2018.

“I’ve passionately said for the last year that I was going to run for governor or go home and I’m proud to say that decision is clearly, we’re going home, “ he said.

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